July 30, 2019
South Burnett councillors will discuss the Uluru Statement From The Heart to determine Council’s official position on it.
The move comes after Noosa Shire Council voted at its July 15 meeting to co-sponsor a motion with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council which will be tabled at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) State Conference in Cairns in October.
The joint Cherbourg-Noosa motion is:
That the Local Government Association of Queensland recognises the Uluru Statement From The Heart, and
- Hears and supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ call for the establishment of a First Nation’s Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution and for a referendum on this matter;
- Looks forward to working with our constituents, other levels of governments and all Australians to take this next step towards reconciliation; and
- Requests that the Australian Local Government Association consider expressing similar support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Noosa Council CEO Brett de Chastel told the meeting the 2017 Uluru statement “rejects symbolic Constitutional recognition in favour of substantive Constitutional reform and calls for three fundamental changes: Voice, Treaty, Truth.
“These reforms involve establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee the negotiation of treaties and truth-telling processes,” he said.
“Our council has been asked whether we would co-sponsor a motion to the LGAQ conference with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council on this issue.”
Mr de Chastel said Cherbourg had a long history with Noosa Shire Council.
“For many years, the former Noosa Council provided mentoring, support and assistance to Cherbourg Council and some of the native title claimants of the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) people reside in Cherbourg,” he said.
“It would be an ideal outcome for a proposed LGAQ conference motion on a matter such as this to be co-sponsored by both an Indigenous Council and a non-Indigenous Council.
“As a progressive Council and as a Council looking to build stronger working relationships with our local Indigenous community, it would be appropriate for our Council to co-sponsor a motion with Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to the LGAQ annual conference.”
The motion was moved by Cr Brian Stockwell and passed unanimously.
On Tuesday, South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell said he was not aware of the details of the Uluru Statement nor was he sure what views other councillors held.
But he would discuss the matter with them in advance of the LGAQ conference.
He said he was confident the Cherbourg-Noosa motion would be “thoroughly discussed” when it was tabled.
Mayor Campbell and South Burnett Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff will both be attending this year’s State Conference as the region’s official delegates.
- External link: Uluru Statement From The Heart (261Kb PDF)
